sober and watch And another Work out your salvation with fear and trembling Presumption in all our addresses to the Almighty ever to be avoided lest it taint our sacrifices And however in the coelestial bodies sure we are in all heavenly souls there is duly observed a motus trepidationis even when they lay hold on Vitis and press Racemus here for there be several Acts of our Saviour considerable Three several Advents and for three several creations To the first he came with faciamus Let us make man in our Image and likeness soul and body To the third and last He will come with perficiamus to make it up a full Redemption by his restoring all things which act is also called a Regeneration and respecting man a renewing or change of our vile bodie like his glorious But there is a secoud Advent here mentioned When he came in a body for the Recreation of our souls A work which is no longer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 2.10 His Poem this Piece shewing him a work-man to the proof and therefore well rendred in our translation the work-manship of God created in Christ Jesus On this act in medio done by the Mediator which Janus like afflects on the last reflects on the first On this are we to fix and pitch our consideration which was done by him to the end that all ruin'd since the first and hopefull of the last may claim by vertue of this Act. If at that dreadfull day of Judgement we would see him without amaze or wishing for overwhelming rocks and mountains over us O learn betimes to view him and run after him and lay hold upon him in this advent 'T is this creation puts down thy first and better never made never born if not renewed if not reborn For how much more horrible then ten thousand thunder-claps will the burst of that voice be Depart I know you not no not the work of thy own hands No for though my Plasma I formed you yet you deformed your selves and hated to be reformed by being made conformable to me in life in death in resurrection THE third Cup is of Conformity or Corcordance you may have heard of Saint Francis conformities how like in every thing to our blessed Saviour they ridiculously and blasphemonsly paint him But such morsels are for the vast jaws and ravenening hollow womb of a Papist for their Bel and Dragon faith that devour what ever book or Balade or Bull or Breve without one grain of salt one jot of Reason obtrudes upon them Blessed be God they will not down with us but this must This Cup of conformity I intend which is the eager and earnest desire of resembling our Love and Mercy for else what pretence have we to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 What fellowship hath Christ with Belial yoak-less unenduring to be ruled by his example If a child of light walk so and his disciple follow him first Do this by observing his setting forth which was Oriens a day-spring from on high and thence he flows and descends in his prime Radii of Peace and Righteousness comes as a light to be the Glory of his people A prime lesson for all those that are highly descended and those too that are highly ascended to wealth and honour so to frame their aspects and influences in visiting relieving chearing of Inferiors dilighting to be Children of light followers of God as dear children avoiding as all other iniquitie for none must tarry in his sight so specially those sins which most do thwart i◠a cross line the Zodiack wherein this Sun of Righteousness was pleased to move such are oppression Blood Cruelty Violence Mark how God beats them from his Altar Isa 1 in Indignation Care I for such sacrifice Wash you Put away the evil of your works or ' I le not vouchsafe you a word Secondly Conform and follow him from his entrance on the work of our Redemption at those first purple drops the Primitiae the first fruits in the Temple of his circumcision and there we begin to work out our salvation at the circumcision of the heart pareing away the superfluity of maliciousness and cut to the quick by remorse for sin Our rockie bosoms cleft and falling blood in anguish forced to cry out like those hearers What shall we do to be saved and this circumcision spreading and going round to our eyes and ears and lips chastening and subduing and sanctifying all natures power in us by the power of Racemus here If this in any good measure past then on still to thy Saviours gracious life growing in grace and favour with God and man on to this temper of meekness humbleness in life in death and such a death a crucifixion Know you not That they which be Christs have crucified the flesh with affections and lusts and like his resurrection arising to new life and an ascension too so high the Apostle mounts the Metaphor and follows him into heaven if risen with Christ up then and set your affections on heavenly things Col. 3.1 But stay a little Is this the way to heaven A cup of Conformity call you this ere this be done our Comfort will be cold and dead if we must so learn Christ we are like all to go without Vitis and Racemus too durus Sermo The harshest peice of your Sermon This and I confess it so but we must drink it we must strive with it I but take heed of urging too far You may kill mens hearts and startle many weaker souls from a course in Christianity by being too rigid For when all is said and done and all our Receipts considered when we have once received the Grace of Baptism and often been confirmed in faith by receiving the other Sacrament and receiving so many so sweet and precious Promises in Christ by his word preached after all these Powers we find our selves still under the power of our Corruptions Well! All this may well enough be answered but there is a double fear that surther assaults us First Our Ignorance of the faith For you yourselves you Preachers keep such a stir wtih your definitions and distinctions and disputings about the thing it self The Act and the habit and then the lodging it in the Will or in the Understanding or both The consisting in Assent or Assurance or Obedience Some or all of these So that in such a distraction how shall a weak believer understand you Then secondly our infirmities are so many and so great that they are ready to sink our faith down to the brink of Desperation in Gods mercies and sorce us wretches to cry out who shall deliver us Why Remember yet what was set by I promised to resume that Cup and now it is the season now in the bitterness of soul you are fittest to taste the sweet and sure and everlasting mercies of God in Christ Jesus and for that purpose am I here to minister a word
prayer and supplication 5. Lastly This particular Prayer of David Recordare Domine a word including all Law of God all Duty of man all Sermons and all Prayers For as the Decalogue hath a tree of Life in the midst a branching RECORDARE stretching over both Tables So both again comprised in two Memento's of Vivere Mori and both these contracted to bene vivere two Memoraries The one for Praeterita the Pit whence hewen the Mass wherein corrupt that for Erubescere and then Novissims least the infernal Pit shut her mouthes upon us and this for Contremiscere and so the Spirit and Quintessence of all Sermons is here For we are but Gods Remembrancers so is the Holy Ghost too in preaching and in Prayer Though you know these things saith Saint Peter yet my Duty is to put you in mind in Remembrance If any man be fallen remember and do thy first works if gone back Remember Lots wife To a single person Recordare tui to an Husband to a Father to a Ruler Tui Tuorum Tuâ—rum then such have need of firm and large Memories And preaching to a King of a King from the Book wherein this holy King and sweet Singer of Israel lies embalmed and being dead yet speaks and stricking still his Harp a strain of Davids Recordare will not be disdained Recordare me Domine saith he to God and I to his anointed Remember David and all his troubles And how they stand here yet fresh and fair to be read to his renown in GODS Chronologie However State or Church Monuments may fail a gracious Soveraign but envies self cannot do so Post Fata quieseit and Querimur then turns to Quaerimus Davidi yet God preserves him ever in his book of Remembrance mentioned in Mal. 3. Are not these things noted in thy Book by that heavenly Recorder The righteous shall be had in everlasting Remembrance 16. And so the Sermon might go round to all the Subjects a whithering poor Minister to a dilatory Prelate or forgetfull Patron Recordare Domine and a good Patron to an idle Pastor pointing to the Pulpit Recordare Domine too To the Voluptuary at his fourth health least he hear it too late in hell when he cannot get a drop Fili recordare Finally it will fit us for Imprere a Motto to all our Coats or Coat-armours our Courts or Coaches over all our Houses upon all our Pictures and for Posies to all our Rings to the Bridegroom Domine to the Bride left she forget the Covenant of her God Recordare Domina Thus is it if we speak â—o men all Sermons so is it if to God all Prayers A form of Prayer for David and all Gods servants in all Cases but one Remember not Lord our sins and our offences and yet even therein Lord remember us in Mercy Remember thy old loving kindness and forget not thou to be gracious But in all our troubles if Kings oppress their people Clamabunt ad Dominum is allowed for the lawfull Remedy 1 Sam. 8.18 That is but right and as good reason then for David when from his soul he breaths that vote of God Deut. 32.29 O that this people were wise That they understood That they would consider And yet finds them to mistake and cannot undeceive them but still they beat him with Rebukes in his Bosom and slanders in all his paths then to return and appeal to his God with Recordare Domine Lord clear up the Mist and cause a Right Understanding and a fair Proceeding that I by just Rule and they by due obedience may glorifie thee our only Lord and Saviour Even so rejoycing in the Testimony of a good Conscience and the discharge of his Duty Nehemiah is bold with this form Remember me O my God and wipe not out my Kindnesses c. And to name no more It was the last prayer that took with the Lord of life before his death Lord remember me when thou comest into thy Kingdom And yet even after death it may serve us for Epitaph to call upon God for the Consummation Nay after still in that Consummation it will be of use to mingle with Te Deum Magnificat in the quire of Saints and Angels No Independency even in that Church Triumphant but Recordare Domine as from the Lord our Beginning so on thee for ever depends the Perpetuity and perpetuating of our Endless Felicity 17. Blessed be the Lord We are come to our Anâ—heme After Prayers and Sermon to a Benedictus A close refused by some Interpreters as unsutable to the Context But Calvin saith not so Why not as well in the end as in the Beginning of this Psalm My Song ever shall be of the loving Kindness of the Lord that is his Prologue and doubtless to ease his grifes and raise his hopes He purposely makes choice of this Epilogue Vlysses way to pass the waves of this troublesome world and all Encounters was Resolution and Patience But Orpheus and David singing the Praises of the immortal God shall scape not only Syrens but Scilla too with all her dogs and all the Blasphemies and slander in the gulf of Opprobrium here Therefore the King shall rejoyce in thee O Lord Thy praise shall be ever in his mouth So may thy blessings ever be upon him and his seed after him and let all the people that fear God and honour the King say Amen and seal it again with Amen And so the Priest shall do his Duty even bless all Gods people in his name and to his name ascribe as is most due a Benedictus in Aeternum Blessing and Honour and Glory and Praise be unto our God Now Henceforth and for Evermore Amen Amen A SERMON CALLED THE Zodiack at Court 1 CHRON. 23. ver ult And that they should keep the charge of the Tabernacle of the Congregation and the charge of the holy Place and the charge of the Sons of Aaron their brethren in the service of the house of the Lord. IN the service of the house of the Lord The first Text that I find mentioning the service of the Lord in his house and serves as a Glass wherein we see first Domus abstracted then Domus Domini in conjunction Thirdly Cultus Worship or Service due to Dominus in this Domus and reasonable service 1. Quâ Dominus as he is our Lord and then quâ servus too as he vouchsafes to do us service in many other of his houses and all the service in this house For Domus single In a word It is a main blessing if God afford man an house else worse then Birds or Foxes and therefore as Cains curse unhoused a Vagabond and Abrahams tryal Get thee from thy Fathers house so enrowled among Gods works of Power and Mercy mingled he makes men dwell together in an house and makes them housholds like a flock of sheep An house and a meinie and him many houses Multiply the blessing and encrease the Joy The Summer house
invest us with a Light yet inaccessible will also place another Crown of Glory inaccessible And so in the allusion the contemplation of those joyes that go before the entrance into our Masters Joy and those that follow after in fruition will easily stir and fire our souls to cry or sing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to this son of David Blessed be he that comes thus in the name of the Lord and is the Lord that comes thus from the Father and God Totius of all consolation anointed to his great Office and Design of binding up the broken hearted by the Holy Ghost the Comforter Luke 1. and is himself by way of Excellency stil'd the consolation of Israel And thus this first glad priviledge of Gods fearful and faithful servant is refin'd and wrought up to perfection from this Mine in Malachy the last of the Prophets to that Mine of St. John the last and liveliest of the Evangelists or rather that Mine of our Lords own discovery in Iohn 17.10 Thine they are and all mine are thine and thine are mine Mine But who is he All our comfort even now was complicated and conserv'd in Dominus Exercituum And is he so That stile indeed wears out in the New Testament but is abundantly recompenc'd in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The only Potentate the Lord of Life and Glory Most of all in that name above all names which all tongues must confess and at which all knees should bow that sweet and powerful that gracious and glorious Name of Jesus a Saviour and able to save to the utmost in whom all fulness dwels and in whose hand is all power in heaven and earth And had not their eyes been held down and the Jews hearts vaild over they would have perceived and received him for the true Messiah in this very notion and nature of a Lord of Hosts For in him were all their Moses's Joshuales all their Captains and Saviours their Baraks and Gideons and Sampsons and Davids and Macchabees all reviv'd and restor'd to the world But they knew not the manner of their King and to mistake a King may be a world of misery nor of his Kingdom nor the force of his Artillery in the dreadful Canon and Ordinance of his Word Spirit Nor that the Scepter of his new Law should prove the Iron Rod to break and subdue both men and Devils They considered not his stupendious Miracles proving him the Lord of Hosts in commanding over the whole frame of Heaven and Earth and Seas and all the host of them and bowing whole created nature to his obedience To rebuke tempestuous winds roaring waves as a Nurse her child with Peace and be still nay suspend and silence and deprive Devils of their possessions with a word To lay his command on Death it self and force him to let go his hold after four dayes seisure in the grave Will Iews or Jewish hearts attend my voice that would not hear the thunder of those Miracles But for support of the true Catholick faith and for the consummation of all our consolation King and people Christ Jesus is become our Dominus Exercituum Christo auspice regno regnabo too and his bloody Cross a braver badge then that of Castor and Pollux This is polleus lux ipsa For is it not he alone destroyes our raging lusts and nails them to his cross and he alone that ' gainst a world of opposition and all the opposition of this evil world cryes to his host be of good comfort I have overcome the world He alone that came to dissolve destroy the works the strong holds of Satan and to vanquish powers and Principalities in high places that had the vantage ground over us He that breaks in on death and sin and hell and like a Conquerer in the triumphal Chariot of his Cross made a shew of them openly and as Triumphers us'd to do when he ascended up on high and led captivity captive he gave gifts unto men But yet more to prove him the Lord of Hosts by being more then that name can imply for this Name is observed to be too yong for the ancient of Dayes that is a Name taken up since and from the Creation A Name indeed that draws and scatters on us all we can look for from our Maker and Preserver But all his powers and mercies are resolved and melted into this Name of Christ Jesus Without Christ without God sayes the Apostle in the world we are but meer pieces of the masse nay far worse is our condition born children of wrath and in state of enimies and so the Lord of Hosts is against us and all the hosts of Heaven and spirits of Hell and all the creatures and our selves against our selves And when there was no Name under heaven to save and deliver us from present and wrath to come then came this Prince of peace and became our Peace pledg'd himself for us gave his life a Ransome so making peace So prevailing over the Lord of Hosts binding his Almighty hands and God content to accept terms of peace may we not say so Came not that Voyce from Heaven This is my beloved Son in quo acquiesco in whom I am at peace with all the world If all this prove him not a Lord of Hosts he will one day to the further consolation of all that love his appearing appear to the consternation of all his Despisers in flaming fire to render vengeance And as in the dayes of his flesh then unglorified and compast about with all mans infirmities he could have been encompast with more then twelve Legions of Angels so then he will meet those two Hosts those droves and flocks of sheep and goats with another Army of his Saints and Angels from Heaven with whom we shall be caught up to meet that Lord in the ayr and so shall be ever with the Lord. If we desire yet higher to raise this Crown of consummate consolation in Christ I will come to Visions and Revelations I will open that of St. Steven Acts 7.56 I see heaven opened and the son of man set on the right hand of God which place being further opened by St. John makes us see him on a Throne of Glory covered with light as with a garment under his feet Deaths pale head and a red Dragon and all his enemies about him stand the Armies of his Angels and of mankind a greater number then any man can number of all Nations Languages On his thigh that Name written Rex Regum Dominus Dominorum The Elders casting down their Crowns adore him that has many Crowns upon his head And we may safely add this Title to those Crowns of Dominus Exercituum and rejoyce to think how those Crowns are encinctur'd and enchas'd with precious stones for the twelve Tribes of Israel and with manifold unions of God and man of grace and glory for the consolation of the Gentiles also thereby fully made perfect
perfect lacking nothing Alas if the unprofitable servant be cast out what shall become of the Malignant the Covetous the Proud the Luxurious How are we then to think of that triple charge of Pasce of Jacobs enduring frost and heat of the shepheards keeping watch by night and then of Leo Rugiens to devour both Pastor and Flock And how are they able to resist if we assist not unless we exhort rebuke exhort and minister a word of consolation to every soul that is weary and then the people to be swift to hear How precious is the treasure we bring though in earthen vessels Is it not the Word of God we bring and offer you To mens words we owe temporary belief if they speak wisely and a Resignation of our Judgements till we hear them out But to the Word of God which is diffused into a Sermon or else woe to him that makes it we owe an absolute Resignation and perpetual captivity Take heed then of contempt or wanton ranging after an heap of such Teachers as are after our own lusts lest we cause God to withold this bread from Heaven and endanger the famishing of our souls Let England remember the error of the Jewish Church once the Jewel and peculiar of the Lord of Hosts the defection of the Romish the Degeneration and then the demolition and abolition of Antioch Ephesus Corinth and many others O think in time for we draw very near it of this peoples sin here at the twelfth and thirteenth verses They held the Table of the Lord contemptible and snuffed at it perchance respecting the gorgeous Idols of the Gentiles In the same corrupt affection as many carnal Gospellers not ashamed to let men hear their wishes for the stately and triumphant shews again of Masse Dirges Processions Pilgrimages God hath blest the Land and Church even to the stupor and envy of our Neighbours with abundance of the Gospel of peace and the blessing of God in his Ordinance and with many curious and exact work-men Jewelers of souls and will we not bless the Lord praise him and magnifie him for ever Will we not prize this unsearchable Riches of Christ Shall we rather strive to quench and do despite to the Spirit of his Grace by despising Prophecying and like Swine and Dogs trample upon and turning again rend and tear such as pour these precious Pearls before us stoning them that are sent unto us with hard and bitter censures If the ministration of the Law was glorious what is that of the Gospel Examine it Is it not the Power and Wisdom of God and in the Administration of the Sacrament is not the bread we break the communion of the body and the cup we reach out into you from God the communion of the blood of Jesus Are not the offices of the Church such as distinguish us from Dogs and Infidels Let me then first creep a little into mount Ebal and bitterly curse all those thas have evil will at Sion and then flie into Gerizim and cheerfully bless with blessings of the right band Praise and Honor and Salvation upon the heads of all those Christian Kings Princes and people of all conditions who in their several places seek the advancement of the Truth of God and the encouragement of his faithfull servants while their own hearts strike them with the conscience and guilt of maliciousness and propenseness to Idolatry or schismatick Innovations that dare not say Amen 3. We come briefly to the third day to which we must all come the day of death when Gods own having past the fervor of youth and clean escaped the flesh and worlds contagions and the fiery darts of Satan having in short done what they came for they descend into the grave with their bodies like a rick of corn into the Barn in due season and their spirits return to God that gave them when even death is to them precious as well for rest and security as for that new Newness of life which then begins in death clearing to them that whereof Euripides doubted whether to die were indeed to live and contrary for so St. Paul determines it Christ is to me life and death is to me advantage and therefore desired he this day of his dissolution wherein he might be more perfectly united to his Jesus For these his holy Jewels are never so well set as when inset in the joy and Glory of their Lord and Master which makes that in such souls even the approaching towards death fils and purifies with high and heavenly apprehensions as it is in natural motions nearer still to the center or as in Diggers in a Myne who work most earnestly when near the Treasure But if it happen that any of these Jewels be so far dignified as his Lord accepts his life in sacrifice by Martyrdome consummate in sealing the Truth of Jesus with his blood how doth this add fresh ornament and addition of honor to these Servants of God as came to pass with that Protomartyr St. Stephen first made up a Jewel after his Master those stones the Persecutors threw surrounding his head as a precious Crown of Glory However they are all that die in the Lord enfranchised from those chains of corruption which abide the best alive for we dare not boast our Saints as Bellarmine doth Gouraga or his Fellow doth Phil. Nerius who was fain to pray God to depart from him and draw back his mind from heavenly things No we have learnt another way of humble acknowledgement from St. Paul I know that in me that is in my flesh dwels no good thing and St. James In many things we sin all and the day of absolute absolution from sin is not till this day of dissolution wherein these Jewels by death come to take possession of everlasting life 4. The last is the last of dayes Novissimus and the day of Renovation which none but the ancient of days can know and of which also there is a mixt mention in the beginning of this fourth chapter The day of the Lord comes as a furnace and Rev. 6. The great day of his wrath called the day of the Lord Jesus and the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ Rom. 16. The first day we spake on the day of affliction and the last we spake on the day of death do roule up sometime all together It befals alike saith the Preacher to the clean and unclean to him that swears and to him that fears an oath and for the second the day of powerfull preaching the word Hypocrites elude it The devil can transform himself into an Angil of Light and his zanies may make a fair shew in the flesh saith the Scripture But at this great day shall be a real Partition of Sheep and Goats of Wheat and Tares which yet flock and grow together then he will gather his elect from the four winds and declare his mighty Power in glorifying both their souls and
all those gracious Promises those Letters of Love indited by the Holy Ghost in Prose and Verse which cry unto us to turn and look upon and accept the salvation profered that salvation which our blessed Saviour wrought for us by strong cryes and by the effusion of that blood which yet cryes and intercedes freshly for us not all these availab letill the third visitation of his Spirit which is therefore called the Comforter Coming as Jobs friends in visitation both to mourn and comfort him Nay what Visitant what Physitian what Confessor what Wise of thy bosom what Friend who is as thine own soul would so attend for he abides for ever So minister for he helps Vna sublevat for the Greek better expresses it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 assists in lifting against our Infirmities so pray and groan for us with sighs and groans that cannot be exprest against all our faintings and despairs our sick fits of fear and distrust giving us Evidence Earnest broad Seal of Heaven untill the day of our full Redemption And this is that comfortable Visitation of the sacred Spirit respectively to the means of Grace when he will not trust me with the Bible alone the story of his Birth and Death not the Sermon alone the Exposition and Application of that Story but comes after both and sees how they work nay makes them work in me and enables me in some good measure to work by them Mans office in regard of this mercifull visitation it to debate and answer Debate first Think what we were before he visited Lost Captives Enemies Dead in sins and trespasses He then to drop his Blood and Grace his manifold Grace preventing exciting guiding confirming softly pierceing even into stony hearts which is described by many a sweet and amorous Metaphor These are his Flaggons and Apples and our state a Marriage above that too there 's una Caro one flesh But this Union so high and holy no words reach it Per â—undem Spiritum by one and the same Spirit But what shall we do First Believe else we make God a lyar and there 's the quarrel when we trample upon despise and count the blood of this Covenant as an unholy thing and if we tremble to contemn him shall we dare to think it nothing Shall we take a solemn Pride in despising his servants Et eo nomine even therefore hold a man despicable because a Minister Remember it is observed as the height and Precipice of all iniquity as far as people could do or God could suffer when God rising early by them was mockt in them the Text saith then there was no remedy 2 Chron. ult cap. But again Debate What shall we do and the Apostle meets this Consultation Make your Calling and Election sure and this to be done in Gods Method Enquire after our Calling first and not begin at the wrong end Hearken to that cry of the Spirit within thy soul the Kingdom of Heaven is within you and not too fondly spend the time in searching those rouls of Gods predestination and take heed of sinking thy soul toward a despair in his Mercy or to a self-condemnation For the Spirit of God speaking peace darest thou still proclaim a War Or if God have no bill against thee shall thy timerous Conscience be framing vain and carnal Answers Doth not God ask by way of Indignation Where is the bill of thy mothers divorce or to which of my Creditors have I sold thee Isaiah 50.1 If so Then what shall I answer answer God in obedience all the Creatures preach this Answer there is in all a Correspondency The Corn and Wine and Oyl hear us and the Earth hears them and the Heavens hear it but all hear him even the most unruly Creatures are our Rule the stormy wind and Tempest obeying his voice So we his Voyce without in his Word and his Voyce too within by his Spirit speaking to our hearts not then drown those motions or bury them in company and wine and worldly cares or pleasures lest so we quench grieve or do despight to the Spirit of grace and obey him actually not in professory Religion only but walk in light and bring forth fruits worthy amendment of life Lastly quid retribuam what answer but a grateful admiration as he that spake after a full apprehension O Lord what is man that thou dost so visit him This sacrifice as he counts it an Honour so t is all we can offer all we can offer him on earth and when all things here have end endless thanks shall have their beginning in Heaven As that Church in triumph there all those Angels and all those Virgins Prophets Apostles Martyrs with their loud clarious and Trumpets and Harps of Gold and Ivory strike nothing sing nothing but Hallelujah So we that are parts of the Church Militant should exalt our voyces and joyn in full Chorus We praise thee GOD we acknowledge c. Heaven and Earth shall thus be full of his glory 2. Gods second Visitation is in Judgement and for sin general When we find him coming forth of his Treasury his store-house of plagues War Famine wild beasts Pestilence and particular of crosses sickness loss But t is the great visitation here chiefly meant in the day of Judgement For Job was under temporal calamity now already at the pronouncing of this Text yet as we are viatores in our way to take notice of this especially as it reaches his servants his choisest though with limitation with that distinction ever ad correctionem non aâ—ruinam and yet they fall thick in the morning saith Job in the night saith David nay visiteth him every morning and trieth him every moment Job 7.18 For is there not a swarm an hydra and wheel of troubles in our whole life per caput circa saliunt latus saith he when rose the Sun so fair but ere his fall some clouds have seiz'd on them if not on him some grief some nay many many perturbations enough I 'le warrant thee for I have Gods own testimony enough for the day is the evil thereof Upon this Visitation when it drops when it falls when it pours on us what shall we do Why first debate stand and consider as Job if all should go Naked came I out of my mothers womb and naked must I return Is it the height the depth of any grievous affliction What is it more then that of my Saviour O but he was more then man is it more then theirs in Heb. 11. rackt sawn asunder c. Hast thou yet resisted to blood or is it come to the fiery tryal And then in affliction at least after it ask thy soul is it not good for thee Heb. 11.2 as the Apostle speaks of strangers may not a man this way receive Angels unawares as Gen. 28.16 Jacob on his journey at Bethel when he wak'd and said surely God is in this place so God is in this Visitation and I was
our relict condition as also of the spreading venom and malignity of original corruption Nascimur morimur that 's bad enough comes up and is cut down like a flower but this is worse Nascimur inficimur we cannot come up like a flower which lifts his pure Crown into the air and rising through unclean earth is not sullied contracts retains nothing of the saeculency and dusty soil No flower in all the garden of mankind but Jesus of Nazareth but only that one Lilly among the Thorns one Rose of Sharon one flower of Jesse that was ever growing in God from all Eternity had a Proviso put in for him that nor in birth nor life nor death he should see or know or take any Corruption But upon all mankind that is meerly so the infection works the infection of sin as it is entred here in Adam so it went over all like a deluge in as much as in one all have sinned and all rise tainted with their Fathers leprosie which is by some supposed to be the meaning of that speech in St. Peter 1 Pet. 1.18 where he tels the Saints They are redeemed from the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vain conversation received by tradition or by traducement from your Fathers and from this Great grand-father of all those Fathers from which taint nothing can purifie our souls but the precious incorruptible blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish But of this the Apostle plentifully in that fifth Chapter to the Romans By one mans disobedience many were made sinners but expresly verse 12. By one man sin entred and past over all These two contemplations are enough to break up the spring-head of our tears and with strong cries make us declare and deplore our misery But who believes our report or who spends his tears upon this subject We find a prophane Esau crying cut with a great and exceeding bitter crie for the loss of a blessing in the things of this life Corn and Wine and Lordship Gen. 27.34 And so I find even David werping and crying for a wicked son And the earth is full of such howling habitations for earthly grievances But who will follow the example of David Psa 51. Behold I was shapen in iniquity the warmth of my conception in the womb was sinfull O purge me wash me create in me a clean heart O God renew a right spirit in me who considers rightly the cursed radical contagion of our nature which strives even after the grafting into Christ and receipt of the Grace of sanctification in our spirit and struggles for Dominion That which we should hourly watch lest it prevail over us that shrub and bramble which would top or dwarf the Cedar of Gods Grace in us and hath force in our members to bring forth fruit unto death Rom. 7.5 Such forcible entry makes this inborn corruption that like the strong man keeping possession or as a Sheriffe that hath Posse comitatus and seises and outs the owner and bars him from the use of his goods Such rule this unruly wickedness keeps in our hearts and such a sway it bears so that it is no longer I that do it but sin saith the Apostle that raigns in me and makes me lose all power and all good even Bonum possibilitatis a loss irrecoverable irremediable and no cure for this wound in nature They talk of a natural Balsom in mans body for all bodily diseases But were it not for a spiritual bleeding balm from that anointed holy Saviour were it not for that double spring of Grace and Blood derivable to us and to be let in upon us for the reviving and refreshing of our fainting souls what would become of our salvation And though in that fountain set open for Judah for Jerusalem for sin and for transgression I may wash and be cleansed from this leprosie yet mark how that Gospel begins both in the language of the Baptist and his Master afterward Repent and then the Kingdom of heaven is at hand then the Kingdom of heaven is within you that sweet sorrow of a contrite sinner that usefull pulp of those tears we fall at the sight and feeling of our strong corruptions is best to make conserve and preserve of grace in our bearts which God and his holy Angels beholding as it is Vinum Angelorum making them rejoyce in Heaven so himself will renew his Miracle upon such souls and turn that water into the wine of consolation Thirdly After this mournfull lecture of bemoaning our loss and deprivation and depravation natural Let me speak a word in season against that solemn sin of Pride Look to the rock from whence thou art hewn Some boast of original descendings from famous Ancestors and yet too many sons are born in original debt and diseases of their Parents of whom they are so apt to brag But it is enough and more for ever to strip all sorts of men out of all vain and mad dressings and coverings of themselves under that mishapen and monstrous vice of Arrogance that here they find Illud quod dicere nolo Quod dici no lunt dici potuisse non potuisse refelli That which men cannot endure to hear or think upon we are all loth to turn and look upon our Fathers nakedness not out of modesty as Shem and Jophet but because in height and pomp and in the vaniry of high-soaring imaginations we strive to forget both God and him and our selves It is therefore that God in this Text comes still and calls after us and shews us both the Receipt and the Probatum two dusts brings Adam in his hand and presents every man to himself as in a general Glass of humane frailty And this Vbi tu is now no more a question but an Indicative and Demonstrative an Adverbial and a Proverbial a very radical Primitive and Affirmative of Egomet with Tute and Ille Ipse and brings all to Idem in Adam here and jumbles all the genders of mankind common and doubtfull or epicoene Sparrows and Eagles and all sexes and professions and degrees of mankind Princes and People and calls in that voice of the Psalm O ye sons of men How long will you love to belie your selves Quid superbis Why so goodly O thou earth and ashes Monstrons Incongruity to behold servants in the saddle saith Solomon and Princes to foot it by but an incomprehensible ugliness in the looks of a proud man when we look up to Heaven and contemplate him that came down from Heaven for us men came down indeed stript and empty of all his Glory An incarnate crucified and humble God Will neither his main Precept Learn of me learn this above all thy Learning Nor his Example Behold I have given you an example Will nothing swage the swelling of thy proud stomack Think yet there is no Grace but for the humble no sight of God and his Glory but for the meek And if thou resist that spirit of